Phoenix Suns guard Josh Okogie, well-known for his defensive prowess and boundless energy on the court, has been channeling his passion into a different field this summer: photography.
Okogie's interest in photography ignited during a vacation in Milan, Italy, coinciding with Fashion Week. There, he picked up a Sony a7 III camera and, encouraged by a friend, began to explore his newfound hobby. What started as a curious endeavor has quickly become a central part of his offseason routine.
Embracing the Learning Curve
Despite his athletic success, Okogie readily acknowledges that mastering photography has been a humbling experience. "I'm still not good. I'll say 90-95% of my pictures are BS, but I feel like I've gotten better -- slightly -- each day I've taken pictures," Okogie admits. He has invested time in understanding the technical aspects of his camera, experimenting with settings, white balance, and more. "I've kind of figured out how the camera works, how to do the settings, how to do the white balance and all that. So it's been pretty cool."
Capturing Live Action
Leveraging his background in professional sports, Okogie has focused his lens on live basketball games. In Las Vegas, he captured dynamic moments during the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game, the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets summer league game, and the Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors clash. However, photographing live action has its unique challenges.
"It's very fast. Every time somebody dunks, by the time I take a picture, he's already done finished the dunk and he's already playing defense," Okogie describes. He recognizes the need to improve in this aspect, stating, "I feel like the biggest improvement I have to make is adjusting to the speed of the game and not only anticipating but also being at the right angle to get the best picture."
Learning from the Best
Okogie looks up to seasoned photographers like David Sherman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of Phoenix. He respects their ability to capture the essence of basketball games and aims to emulate their expertise. "That's my guy. He films the Wolves and he also films a lot of other NBA-sanctioned events. So I've always paid close attention to David," Okogie shares.
A Passion for Emotion
For Okogie, the appeal of photography lies in its ability to convey the emotion behind moments. "Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there," he explains. His goal is not just to document events but to evoke the same intensity and excitement felt in real-time.
Beyond NBA games, Okogie plans to extend his photography pursuits to WNBA games during the offseason, further honing his skills and expanding his portfolio.
Balancing Basketball and Photography
While photography offers a creative outlet, Okogie's primary focus remains on basketball. Recently, he signed a two-year, $16 million extension with the Phoenix Suns, reaffirming his commitment to the team. "My mentality is just to go out there and just try to give this team the energy that they need on both sides of the floor," Okogie states with determination. He sees himself as the "battery" of the team, energizing and motivating his teammates.
Discussing his objectives with new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, Okogie is optimistic about the upcoming season. "The West is going to be really competitive next year. I feel like we can be as good as we want to be. I feel like our ceiling is as high as we make it. I'm excited. I feel like if we get a good training camp and we start to jell, the sky's the limit for us," he asserts.
With his dual passions for basketball and photography, Josh Okogie exemplifies a dynamic athlete who is always looking for ways to grow and express himself, both on and off the court. As the new season approaches, Suns fans can look forward to his high-energy performances and perhaps even catch a glimpse of his photographic talents capturing the spirit of the game.